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3. U.S. Secretary of War: “The Iranian Regime Must Change”

“This war will take time and will not be like its predecessors,” said the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Dan Caine on Monday as the Pentagon addressed the nation for the first time since the outbreak of the U.S.-Israeli war against Iran.

U.S. Secretary of War Pete Hegseth underscored the administration’s posture, declaring: “The duration of this war is up to President Trump.”

“The Iranian regime must change,” Hegseth said. 

Speaking at the first full Pentagon briefing since the U.S.-Israeli war began, Hegseth said Iran is “now exposed,” adding that Iranian missile capabilities “no longer pose a threat at this time.”

Operation ‘Righteous Fury’ Confirmed

Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Dan Caine said the operation was launched under direct orders from the administration and is the result of “months of planning and coordination.”

“The clearly defined objectives will take some time to achieve,” Caine said, without detailing operational targets.

Washington’s Framing of the War

Hegseth accused Tehran of stalling negotiations prior to the outbreak of hostilities and said President Donald Trump had been clear when he told the Iranian people that “the time has come.”

The Secretary of War stated that the United States would end the conflict according to “America’s clear conditions,” signaling that Washington intends to dictate the terms of any resolution.

He also described the campaign as the largest military operation in U.S. history and said it would proceed “regardless of the international community.”